Russian Security Forces Use Israeli Technology to Hack Opposition Phones
Russian authorities accessed the phone of opposition leader Andrei Pivovarov using tools from Israeli firm Cellebrite, raising questions about whether the company truly ended cooperation with Russia.
Russian security forces gained access to the mobile phone data of opposition leader Andrei Pivovarov using technology from Israeli company Cellebrite. Pivovarov was arrested in May 2021 and spent three years in prison before being released as part of a large prisoner exchange between Russia and the West.
During the investigation, authorities obtained data including contacts and correspondence, endangering many of his associates. Pivovarov stated that officials sought messages to colleagues in his organization and other politicians, which could be used in criminal cases against them. Following his arrest, several colleagues immediately left Russia.
Experts from Citizen Lab believe Russian forces used Cellebrite equipment to hack the phone. The incident raises questions about whether the Israeli company truly ceased cooperation with Russia as officially announced.
In early 2021, Cellebrite announced it would stop selling its products to Russia and Belarus after reports emerged that its technology had been used against opposition leader Alexei Navalny. While the company may have halted new equipment deliveries, it failed to deactivate previously sold devices, allowing Russian security services to continue using them for persecution of dissidents.
